Campese: Culture, Terraces and Hiking Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Campese, exploring its cultural sites, landscapes and trails can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your stay. Campese brings together cultural heritage, waterways and terraced landscapes, as well as hiking destinations. The Church of Santa Croce, with Teofilo Folengo’s tomb, is a cultural landmark; Le Stue, Val Vecchia and the trails to Monte Caina or into the San Martino Valley offer other points of interest. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are especially interested in cultural sites, landscapes or hiking trails.

Water and Terraces in the Landscape

Le Stue is a spring in Campese at the entrance to the Canale di Brenta and is connected to the local water system. The Val Vecchia valley opens up above Campese on the right bank of the Canale di Brenta. Its varied terraced landscape is now only partly cultivated. North of the village, Strada Campesane runs along the right bank of the Brenta; its landscape is also shaped by terraces. These landscape features differ in character: Le Stue is a spring, Val Vecchia is a valley, and Strada Campesane is a road.

Churches, a Tomb and a Historic Trail

Campese is home to the Church of Santa Croce, the monastery and the tomb of Teofilo Folengo (1491–1544). The tomb is in a chapel to the left of the presbytery of the Church of Santa Croce. The Church of San Martino offers a different point of interest: an old trail into the San Martino Valley begins next to its outer apse. Santa Croce has a historic tomb inside the church, while the connection to San Martino leads from the church building into a valley. Check on-site to confirm current access to Santa Croce, the monastery and the tomb.

Compare Hiking Destinations and Routes

The two CAI trails make for a direct comparison because both start in Campese and lead to Monte Caina. Sentiero CAI 762 reaches the summit, where there is a war memorial and a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The walk on Sentiero CAI 763 takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes and is rated difficulty grade E. Both routes lead to the same mountain, but the information highlights different planning considerations: for CAI 763, the walking time and difficulty grade are given, while for CAI 762, the two landmarks at the summit are noted. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out on a hike.

Trails from Contrada Castelvecchio lead to Montagna Campesana and Caina, as well as along meadows to the village of San Martino and the Rea springs. The destinations range from mountains to a village and springs. The Alta Via del Tabacco is a hiking trail focused on ethnography and nature that connects Campese, Campolongo and Valstagna. Thus, trails to individual landscape destinations sit alongside a route that specifically connects three villages. When considering hiking options for your trip, you can distinguish between a named destination such as Monte Caina and a route linking several places.

Discover more destinations: Tresché Conca, Castelgomberto, Altissimo, Orte, Villaga, Monteviale, Mason Vicentino, Canove di Roana.

For the broader travel overview: Vicenza.